Evangelical journal sees US bishops still lagging in credibility on abuse

April 23, 2010

World magzine, a weekly published by Evangelical Christians, brings an unusual perspective to the sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church:

In Europe, both the church and the state have responded better to the Catholic abuse scandal than they did in America, but big problems remain.

In the US, the World story explains, the hierarchy has not yet acknowledged its own role in expanding the scandal. The article quotes CWN's Phil Lawler:

I don't think that the American hierarchy has yet realized that there are two parts to the scandal and they have dealt with the abusive priest part of the scandal but not with the complicit bishop part.

The "Dallas Charter" reforms and the John Jay reports have not restored trust, World adds-- now citing David Clohessy of SNAP-- because they are "based on the assumption that bishops will suddenly become transparent and accountable, even though no one has been disciplined for the cover-up."

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